Jersey Boys Among Hottest Jukebox Musicals
March 28th, 2006USA Today reporter Elysa Gardner reports that ever since the Mama Mia! took Broadway by storm back in 2001, New York and other cities have welcomed a stream of shows based on the catalogs of popular artists and bands. In addition to the Mama Mia!, Gardner highlights Movin’ Out, The Times They Are a-Changin’, Hot Feet, Ring of Fire, and of course, the critically acclaimed Jersey Boys.
Although Mamma Mia! remains the top dog of all pop-inspired productions, Jersey Boys, which chronicles the rise and fall of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, has become a similarly hot ticket, filling 95% of seats since Thanksgiving. While Jersey might seem a more natural fit for local crowds, director Des McAnuff notes that the show also “smashed all box-office records” in its initial run at the La Jolla Playhouse on the opposite coast. According to McAnuff,
“The music seduces people, and it’s a phenomenal story: four guys dragging themselves out of the ‘hood, having unprecedented success, then watching it all fall apart.”